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The Face Behind Bikeyface

It's not every day that one meets a cartoon character, let alone a bicycling cartoon character. And so imagine my delight upon learning that I live just minutes from one. Allow me to introduce: Bikeyface!

A sure cure for self-seriousness, Bikeyface is a weekly comic strip that offers a parallel universe where all the weird stuff we imagine but don't say out loud materialises in cartoon form. Rich in visual detail, manic undertones, and good old fashioned perversity, Bikeyface has charmed the bicycle blogging universe with unexpected gems like "Office Shower Politics", "Men in Skirts" and "Winter Beard."

The heroine of Bikeyface describes herself as a "common commuter" type - who wears "non-spandex" clothing, "inappropriate cycling footwear," a hounstooth patterned helmet, and a "bikey smile" as she pedals around greater Boston on her bike, Marlene Dietrich.

Occasionally she will don a cycling-themed accessory, such as this gear pendant (okay, so they're the wrong type of gears)...

...or a beard/muschachio balaclava, to compensate for her lack of facial hair on chilly winter commutes.

But who is Bikeyface really, the woman behind the cartoon and the knitted facial hair?

Well, all right: She is Bekka. She is a painter with a non-painterly dayjob, to which she commutes by bike. She lives in Somerville, MA. Before that she lived in LA and rode her bike there. And she is from New England originally.

The bike she currently rides is a tiny Surly Cross-Check in her favourite colour, which she got last summer and loves. It is called "Marlene Dietrich" because it is sultry and feminine, yet with a tomboyish edge. Of course. Other bikes she has owned have included an Electra Amsterdam and a couple of hybrids, but Marlene is the preferred ride - used for both commuting and long distance recreational cycling.

Of all the people I've met so far via the cycling blog connection, meeting Bekka has been my biggest "the worlds collide" type of experience. Besides living walking distance from one another, we discovered that we have some uncanny non-bikey things in common and spend more time talking about those than we do about cycling. It sometimes feels as if we are interacting as two different sets of people: the real us, with our bikey alter egos hovering in the background. We've talked a little about identity - how we both come across differently on our blogs than we do in person, and how people react to that difference when they meet us. Whereas Bikeyface is a perky, mischievous and boisterous character, in person Bekka is subtle and analytical, and rather difficult to characterise. Visually, she is striking: A soft and delicate face with enormous, unusually shaped blue eyes - the type of face that belongs in a 1930s French film and not so much in a 21st century bike cartoon. I would certainly like to paint her some time, as herself.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy Bikeyface and invite you to do the same. The strip normally comes out every Wednesday morning and is certain to brighten up your day.

Comments

Thankyou Velouria! With Yehuda Moon out of commission, this is just the thing. And since she doesn't have to meet a daily deadline, hopefully she won't burn out.Ecovelo has just done the same thing, so I was on the hunt for new favorites.

I saw the photo posted on Twitter yesterday with the two of you together, and I have to admit that I thought the same thing as Jim... you kind of do look like you could be sisters. Maybe you are just kindred spirit sisters. :O) Regardless, it's nice to see the face behind Bikeyface.

"Had long hair once; men looked like they wanted to puke when I turned around."

Wish I didn't have a mouthfull of tea when I read this.

That's funny that Bekka & I come aross as looking alike, we don't really; I have different facial features, proportions and mannerisms. In person and when I had long hair, I would also get confused with Susan whenever we were both at Harris Cyclery, at least from a distance and from the back. Maybe I am one of those chameleon people who can look like anyone in the right light.

I read that some girl started a new comic strip that's similar to Yehuda Moon. Went to read it, and man it is nothing like YM. Bikeyface is disturbing and NSFW. Needless to say I am a huge fan. Keep up the good work!

I liked Yehuda Moon and was sad when it was discontinued; hopefully it still might come back. I do not think it was intended to be funny per se. Never read Family Circus, not much of a comic strip person generally.

Velouria and Bekka should join forces as Cycling Super Heroes. Disguised in their beard balaclavas and riding hipster fixies, they'll fight for truth, justice and cyclists' rights. Bikeyface is hilarious. The artwork is super. How nice that you are neighbors.MT Cylist

yeah, I agree that the Bikeyface <-> Yehuda connection is a bit tenuous. They're both funny in different ways, but one is narrative and the other is editorial cartoon.

you know, there are enough of us who live within a couple of miles of each other (and, I think, cross paths with each other) that some kind of Boston bike blogger get-together is overdue. Maybe a group brunch at the S&S or Friendly Toast sometime after the holidays?

cris 7:12 . . . having lived in Somerville in 1986-87, I find that reading Lovely Bicycle is often an exercise in nostalgia for me, but your mention of the S&S really hit home. My wife and I spent many an evening there. Makes me want to move back -- almost, anyway.

Even though the drawing style and humor are completely different, there is something about Bikeyface that reminds me of Bill Plympton's animation, especially "I married a strange person." Hard to find and not safe for work or children, but worth seeing.

Velouria,thanks SO much for this post,I had never seen\heard of Bikeyface,but have been thoroughly enjoying the catching up reading of it today,and I definately clicked "Follow" (works really well being that I have a Wordpress blog myself,just a simple click) :)

Thanks Velouria for this blog (and the pics.)on Bikeyface / Bekka. I found her blog thru Boston Biker about 6 months ago, she is amazing ! Love the Surly Cross-Check, all it needs to complete it is a B-17 Brooks Saddle...

Hello !I am the chief editor of Weelz.fr, the french web magazine about urban biking.I'm preparing an article about Bekka and BikeyFace.Can I use your photos to illustrate it ?Keep me posted !Thanks a lot !

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